The Detroit Lions opened 2023 by establishing themselves as a legitimate NFL contender with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs, who had just come off a Super Bowl win — the Chiefs, in turn, closed 2023 by repeating as Super Bowl champions, while the Lions were minutes away from being the team on the other side.
Last year, the teams shared first place for the best record in the NFL at 15-2. Many felt they were destined to meet in Super Bowl LIX before the Lions’ barrage of defensive injuries towards the end of the 2024 season.
Fans had to wait a little longer for the rematch, but now it’s here — the Lions will be prowling into Arrowhead Stadium for a primetime matchup with the Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 12.
The Lions and Chiefs are considered two of the top teams in the league, and their matchup is one of the most exciting of the season. The two are premier contenders to face off again in February for Super Bowl LX.
Matchups to watch
Goff vs. Mahomes
Mahomes has quickly become one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and Goff has had an up-and-down career marked by a renaissance since coming to Detroit.
Mahomes is a magician who’s at his best when he’s improvising outside of structure, and Goff is much more of a technician, who’s really only effective — albeit very effective — inside of structure.
The two have only faced off twice before. In those games, Goff averaged 333 yards, 2.5 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Mahomes put up 352 yards and four touchdowns per game but also threw four interceptions between the two contests.
Mahomes is widely considered the superior, but Goff is 2-0 in their previous bouts and playing some of the best football of his career.
Aidan Hutchinson vs. Chiefs’ tackles
Hutchinson is one of the most dominant defensive players in football — a pure disruptor.
Hutchinson will likely spend most of his time battling right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who has upside and talent but has been known for penalties and inconsistencies — inconsistencies which Hutchinson should exploit.
When lined up on the other side, Hutchinson will face rookie Josh Simmons, a talented first rounder who has been solid but should have his hands full with the Lions’ star pass rusher.
The Chiefs will need to double-team and chip block Hutchinson, who will have to turn his pressures into sacks, because Mahomes is a risk to make a play until he’s on the ground.
Chris Jones vs. Lions’ interior offensive line
Jones is the best pass rushing defensive tackle in football, and he’s wreaked havoc regardless of who’s lined up across from him.
The Lions will be trotting out an interior unit that has experienced complete turnover since last season.
It started quite ugly for veteran center Graham Glasgow and young guards Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge, but they quickly cleaned it up and have been creating holes for the running game while building a wall between Goff and opposing defenses.
Jones will headline the Lions’ interior offensive line’s toughest challenge yet, and if they can hold up well, the Lions’ line should be solidified as one of the league’s best.
John Morton vs. Steve Spagnuolo
Morton commands the league’s best scoring offense. He’s been under immense pressure to fill the enormous shoes of Ben Johnson, and under Morton, the Lions have put up over 34 points in every game but the first.
Spagnuolo is perhaps the most coveted defensive play caller in the league. In his seventh season as the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator, he specializes at marrying blitzes and pre-snap disguises to keep quarterbacks uncomfortable and put his defensive players in position to make plays.
On Sunday, the two will take part in a chess match, each striving to stay a step ahead of the other as Morton seeks to put Goff in positions to keep his head above the waters of the Chiefs’ defense, and Spagnuolo seeks to make him sink.
Alim McNeill vs. the standard
Alim McNeill, the Lions’ star defensive tackle, might make his return from an ACL tear.
McNeill has already won one matchup with the standard in his return. NFL players are expected to take about a calendar year to return from an ACL tear — McNeill could be back in action after less than 10 months.
The question is: how will McNeill compare to his pre-ACL-tear self? McNeill spent most of 2024 as the Lions’ best pass rusher after the loss of Aidan Hutchinson and was graded by Pro Football Focus as one of the league’s top 10 pass rushers from the interior.
Few expected McNeill to be back in action before the Lions’ Week 8 bye, so it will be worth watching to see if he plays on a conservative snap count and eases his way back into a football rhythm, or if the Lions let him loose and he creates huge problems for the Chiefs’ offense.
Prediction
Lions 31, Chiefs 27
Both teams, seeking to reestablish themselves as top teams in the league, play with their helmets on fire.
Detroit’s offensive line keeps Goff relatively clean, and the Lions are able to capitalize and become the first team to score 30 on the Chiefs this season.
Mahomes and the Chiefs move the ball effectively, but the Lions’ defense gets a key turnover and tightens up in the red zone, limiting two of the Chiefs’ red zone trips to field goals, which is enough for Detroit to outpace Kansas City and head home 5-1.